Head box for paper making machines



May 29, 1956 Filed Nov. 6, 1952 W. S. CORBIN ET L HEAD BOX FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS' he-H S M. Pear on es 6 C0!" [/7 A Miami/2 y 9, 1956 w. s. CORBIN HAL HEAD BOX FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1952 INVENTORS M Pears on 5. Cor-bin A Home May 29, 1956 w. s. CORBIN ErAL 2,747,471

HEAD BOX FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed NOV. 6, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TORj BY W25 J1 [2-1 E fifwj Af/Zom y.

y 9, 1956 w. s. CORBIN ETAL HEAD BOX FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 6, 1952 m ww W Efij k E 0 a V wC w C/varies BY 3 fi JlE E 55 56 F i V United States Patent HEAD BOX FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Wesley S. Corbin and Charles M. Pearson, Watertown,

N. Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to The lilack- Clawson Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 6, 1952, Serial No. 319,156

6 Claims. (Cl. 92-44) This invention has to-do with head boxes for Fourdrinier paper making machines.

The invention has as an object a head box of the type referred to embodying a structural arrangement which functions to deliver the pulp stock to the forming wire of the machine at high velocity, with the stock properly agitated toprovide uniform distribution of the fibers in the stock solution, and to effect removal: of the maximum amount of air from the stock.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings inwhich like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevational view ofthe head box embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the head box with a portion of the concrete supporting structure broken away and parts insection.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectionalview taken on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on line 55, Figure 2.

The head box is formed with a rear wall- 26, and side walls 21, 22. These Walls are formed of sheet metal, the rear wall being reinforced by a series of structural channel members 23, and the side walls by a series of channel members 24, 25, extending horizontally, a vertically extending channel member 26, and an inclined channel member 27.

The box is mounted on'a supporting'base 23' of concrete, or the like, and the rear portion of the side walls 21, 22, extend downwardly, as at' 29, over the ends of the supporting base. A cylindrical chamber 30 is formed in the base 28 and extends transversely below the head box and communicates with the bottom thereof through an elongated slot orrestricted passage 31 The chamber 30 is provided with a plurality of' inlet members 32 connected to the stock supply and which are arranged generally tangentially of the chamber 30 as shown in Fig 3.

The slot 31 connects the-chamber 30, communicates with a vertically extending passage 33 formed by the lower inclined portion34 of the rear wall20 and by a confronting inclined wall 35; the walls 34, 35 diverging upwardly. The diverging passage 33 communicates with a passage 36 formed by the rear wall 20 and partition members 37 which extend transversely of the box and are slidably. mounted at their ends in. vertically extending guide rails 38. mountedon the inner surface. of the side members 21, 22. The members37 form adam to control the: head of the stock within. the box, as: indicated by the line 40-that is,- the head-;.of;: the;stock;r nay, bevaried by ice the number of members 37 positioned in the guide rails 38. This arrangement causes the stock to flow upwardly through the passages 33, 36, over the topmost member 37, and downwardly in a passage 41, this passage being defined by the members 37 and by the front wall 42 of the box and by a bottom wall 43- inclining downwardly from the upper edge of the wall 35 and merging with a horizontally extending portion 44' forming the bottom lip of the slice. The lower portion 45' of the front wall- 42 is flexible for curving as shown in Fig. 3; and it terminates in a straight. portion 46 forming the top side or lip of the slice.

The walls 35, 43, converge upwardly to form a. ridge extending transversely of the box between the up-flow and down-flow compartments. The crest of this ridge is located a substantial distance above the outlet slice of the box. The wall 42 is fixed to channelimembers 50, the upper ends of which are supported by a shaft 51 journalled in bearing members 52 mounted on angle members 53 secured to the upper front edge of the side walls 21-, 22. The front Wall 42 is reinforced by horizontally extend:- ing channel members 54. The vertically extending channel member 50 are formed with transversely extending slots 55 to receive tie rods 56 which extend transversely between the side members 21, 22, and. are protvided with turn buckles 57 bywhich the rods maybe tightened, the rods serving to maintain the forward portion of the side members. 21, 22', in straight parallel relation. A gasket strip 58- is attached to each side. edge of the wall 42 to make a water tight connection between the wall 42' and the side walls 21, 22 of the box. With this arrangement, the front wall 42 is permitted to: be moved about the axis of the supporting shaft 51', moving the lower curved portion 45' of the wall. toward and from the inclined bottom wall portion 43.

The curved portion 45 and the slice portion 46: of the front wall are connected to a beam 60, here shown as of cylindrical formation and which is suspended from supporting structures 61, also supported by the shaft 51. The beam 6%) is provided at each end with' an upwardly extending projection 62 attached to plates 63' slidab'ly mounted on the lower ends of the supporting. arms 61. The members 61 are provided with upwardly extending, externally threaded stems 66, these stems extending through nuts arranged in a worm gear housing 67; the nuts being rotated by Worm gearing mounted in the housing 67 and operated by hand wheels 68mounted on shafts 69 which are connected together by atubular member 70.

With this arrangement, rotation of either of the hand wheels 68 effects vertical movement of the beam 60. Supporting members 72' are fixed to: the under side of the beam 69 and extend forwardly to support a platform 73 provided with a guard rail 74; The curvedp'ortion 45 of the front Wall is connected to the beam 60 bya plurality of turn buckle connections 77, and the: slice portion 46 is connected to the beam by a plurality of adjusting rods 78; These rods extend through thebeatn and are threaded attheir upper ends for the reception of adjusting nuts 79. By adjustment of the nuts 79; the rods 78are. moved axially to move the slice portion 46 towarcland from the beam.

As the. stock flows downwardly through the down-flow compartment 41, it increases materially in velocity due to the restricted passage between the walls 43, 45; This box is intended particularly foruse on high speed paper making'macln'nes, which means the stock flow through the box at relatively high velocity and thevolurne' of stock is high, amounting tosix or eight tons-of stock .flowingthrough thebox per minute; This large volume of stock travels through the: box at high velocitya 'n'd setsup stresses and strains .on the box of greatmagnitude.

If in that portion of the box approaching the slice lips, there is any substantial vibration or distortion in the walls of the box, such vibration adversely affects the flow of stock and this is particularly ,true in the lower portion of the discharge compartment where the passage is reduced by the flow evener roll.

The purpose of the turn buckle connections 77 is to brace the curved portion 45 of the front wall against undue vibration and to obtain the desired curvature of this portion of the front wall.

The rods 78 function to permit adjustment of the upper slice lip 46 in order to maintain it parallel with the lower lip 44 throughout its length. Adjustment of the members 77,78, also determines the curvature on the flexible lip portion 45.

The opening between the slice lips 44, 46, is determined by the vertical position of the beam 60, this being accomplished by manipulation of the hand wheel 68, as previously explained. .The front wall 42 has sliding engagement with the end walls 21, 22, of the box by means of the gaskets 58.

A member 80 extends rearwardly from each end of the beam 60 and is provided with a threaded stem 81 extending through a block 82 attached to the outer surface of each side of the head box, and the rod 81 is provided with nuts 83 to provide for axial adjustment of the members 80 and movement of the beam 60 about the axis of the shaft 51.

There is a beam 90 fixedly secured between the lower ends of the members 61, and this beam is fixedly secured to a box structure 91 which, in turn, is fixedly mounted on the front wall 42, see Figure 3. Accordingly, when the members 61 are moved toward and from the box by the nuts 83, the front wall 42 is moved toward and from the wall 43. In its outward position, the wall .42 inclines downwardly and inwardly at an angle of approximately 5,..this angle being increased as the wall is swung inwardly. This inclination of the front wall 42 aids in the escape of air bubbles collecting on the surface of the wall from the stock during its movement through the down-flow passage 41.

A flow evener roll 95 is mounted on a shaft 103 journalled in the box and extends transversely in the lower portion 33 of the up-flow compartment. This roll efiects agitation of the stock and tends to even out any vertical surges in the stock passing upwardly through the restricted passage 31. The roll.95, inasmuch as. it

partition members 37 employed to provide the partition or dam between the up-flow and down-flow compartments depends upon the head required to supply the machine at the speed at which it is operated, and a number of the bafl les 97 may be employed in each of the up and down-flow compartments.

There is also a flow distributor roll 102 mounted on a shaft 96 arranged in the discharge compartment and acts upon the stock just prior to its passage through the slice, the roll being positioned between the walls 43, 45 to cause paralleling of the stock flow accompanied by agitation of the individual fibers therein as the stock enters T the slice for delivery to the wire 10 on the breast roll 111.

restricts the passageway between the walls 34, 35, results in increasing the velocity of the stock at this point. As the stock enters the inlets 32, it is permitted to expand, so to speak, in the large chamber 30 and thereupon, as it passes through the restricted passage 31, its velocity is again increased but is reduced as it flows upwardly between the diverging walls 34, 35, whereupon it is again increased due to the restriction caused by the presence of the flow distributor roll 95. In addition, with the inlets 32 tangentially arranged as disclosed, the stock entering the chamber 30 is caused to swirl around the inner wall of this chamber, thus producing a'scouring action which is valuable in preventing possible deposits of fiber or other solid material on the wall of chamber 30.

In its flow through the head box, the stock is periodically agitated by a change of velocity. There is 'mounted in the up-flow compartment 36 a bafiie 97, this rails 38, the baffles being positioned vertically by the use of spacer blocks 100. The baflles 97 are spaced vertically so as to cause agitation of the stock prior to flocculation of the fibers in the stock. The number of It' will accordingly be seen that this head box construction provides for delivery of the stock to the wire with the fibers uniformly distributed therein while minimizing both flocculation and also inclusion of air bubbles. In particular, this head box construction provides for repeated acceleration and deceleration of the stock flowing through the box under controlled conditions such that there are minimum tendencies toward undesired turbulence and cavitation. In addition, with the front wall of the head box inclined in the manner disclosed, elimination of air bubbles is promoted during the final downward passage of the stock to the slice and the wire, and also the adjustable mounting of this front wall, together. with the special construction of the upper slice lip and its supporting and bracing means, facilitate accurate changing of the dimensions and configuration of the slice while effectively suppressing vibrations incident to high speed operation and tending to disrupt formation of the sheet.

What We claim is:

1. A head box for a Fourdrinier paper machine comprising front and rear walls and a pair of side walls forming a main chamber, partition means extending between said side Walls and defining a rear compartment and a front compartment in said chamber, means for delivering stock to the bottom end of said rear compartment for flow therein upwardly and over said partition means into said front. compartment, means defining a slice including an extended flexible lip depending from the lower end of said front wall, means supporting the upper end of said front wall for pivotal movement on said side walls toward and away from said partition means, means establishing a forward limit position of said front wall wherein said front wall is tilted upwardly and forwardly with respect to said partition means at a substantial angle to the vertical wherein substantially the entire said front wall is inclined forwardly from the upper end of said flexible lip to cause air bubbles in the downwardly flowing stock in said forward compartment to be guided upwardly out of said chamber before reaching said slice, a beam mounted on said front wall forwardly of the lower end of said front wall, means forming a plurality of adjustable connections between said beam and the front edge of said slice lip for adjusting the alignment of said lip edge, means for raising and lowering said beam with accompanying flexing of said slice lip to change the outlet opening through said slice, means for adjusting said front wall pivotally on said supporting means with accompanying forward and rearward movement of said slice lip, and adjustable means forming a plurality of bracing connections extending between said beam and said lipin laterally spaced relation across the width of said lip intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof for conforming the curvature thereof with the desired outlet through said slice while reinforcing said lip against vibration.

2. A head box for a Fourdrinier paper machine comprising front and rear walls and a pair of side walls forming a main chamber, a bottom wall including a front generally horizontal portion and a portion inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said front portion to form a permanent ridge at a substantial elevation above said 7 grams-i front portion, partition means extending between said side walls'above said ridge and-defining- -a frontcompartment and a rear compartment in said chamber, means for-delivering stock to the-lower end of said rear compartment for flow thereinupwardly and over said partition'means into said front compartment, a lower slice lip forming a horizontal extension of; said front portion of saidbottom wall, saidfront wall including-anupper rigid portion terminating above the plane of said ridge and an extended flexible lip depending from saidrigid portion and forming the upper slice lip, means supporting the-upper end ofsaid-frontwallfor pivotal movement on said; side walls toward and away from said ridge with accompanying generally horizontal adjustment of said upper slice lip, means establishinga forward limit position-of said front wall wherein said wall is tilted upwardly and forwardly at a substantial angle to the vertical to cause air bubbles in the down flowing stock in said forward compartment to be guided upwardly out of said chamber before reaching said upper slice lip, a flow distributing roll mounted in said front compartment closely adjacent said horizontalbpimm, wall portion and of a diameter substantially less than the height of said ridge above said horizontal bottom wall portion, means for adjusting the front edge of said upper slice lip vertically to change the outlet opening through the slice, and adjustable means forming a plurality of bracing connections extending between said front Wall and said upper slice lip in laterally spaced relation across the width of said slice lip at a position intermediate the front edge thereof and said rigid front wall portion to provide for adjusting the cross sectional configuration of said slice lip into maintained closely spaced relation with said flow distributor roll while bracing said lip against vibration.

3. A head box for a Fourdrinier paper machine comprising front and rear walls forming side walls comprising a main chamber, a bottom wall including a front generally horizontal portion and a portion inclined upwardly and rearwardiy from said front portion to form a permanent ridge at a substantial elevation above said front portion, partition means extending between said side walls above said ridge and defining a front compartment and a rear compartment in said chamber, means for delivering stock to the lower end of said rear compartment for flow therein upwardly and over said partition means into said front compartment, a lower slice lip forming a horizontal extension of said front portion of said bottom wall, said front wall including an upper rigid portion terminating above the plane of said ridge and an extended flexible lip depending from said rigid portion and forming the upper slice lip, means supporting said front wall in upwardly and forwardly tilted relation to the vertical at a substantial angle causing air bubbles in the down flowing stock in said forward compartment to be guided upwardly out of said chamber before reaching said upper slice lip, a flow distributing roll mounted in said front compartment closely adjacent said horizontal bottom wall portion and of a diameter substantially less than the height of said ridge above said horizontal bottom wall portion, means for eifecting generally horizontal adjustment of the front edge of said upper slice lip, means for vertically adjusting said slice lip edge to change the outlet opening through the slice, and adjustable means forming a plurality of bracing connections extending between said front wall and said upper slice lip in laterally spaced relation across the width of said lip at a position intermediate the front edge thereof and said rigid front wall portion to provide for adjusting the cross sectional configuration of said slice lip into maintained closely spaced relation with said flow distributor roll while bracing said lip against vibration.

4. A head box for a Fourdrinier paper machine comprising front and rear walls and a pair of side walls forming a main chamber, partition means extending between said side walls and defining a front compartment and a rear compartment in said chamber, means for de livering stock to the bottom end of said rear compartment for flow therein upwardly and over said partition means into said front compartment, means defining a slice and including an extended flexible lip depending from the lower end of said front wall, means forming a pivotal support for said front wall on said side Walls providing for tilting movement of said front wall on a horizontal axis extending parallel therewith to cause adjustment of said flexible lip lengthwise of said machine, means limiting said tilting movement of said'front wall to a range such that in each position within said range said wall is inclined upwardly and forwardly with respect to said partition means at a substantial angle to the vertical to cause air bubbles in the downwardly'flowing stock in said front compartment to be guided upwardly outofsaid chamber before reaching said'slice, means carried by said front wall for raising and lowering the lower edge of said lip with respect to said, front wall to vary the effective opening said slice in each tilted position of each said front wall, and additional. means carried: by said front wall for effecting adjustingmovement of a portion of said lip extending across the width of said front wall and intermediate the upper and lower edges of said lip to vary the cross-sectional contour of said lip in accordance with the adjusted tilted position of said front wall and the adjusted position of said lower edge of said lip.

5. A head box for a Fourdrinier paper machine comprising front and rear walls and a pair of side walls forming a main chamber, partition means extending between said side walls and defining a front compartment and a rear compartment in said chamber, means for delivering stock to the bottom end of said rear compartment for flow therein upwardly and over said partition means into said front compartment, means defining a slice and including an extended flexible lip depending and curving forwardly from the lower end of said front wall, means forming a pivotal support for said front wall on said side walls providing for tilting movement of said front wall on a horizontal axis extending parallel therewith to cause adjustment of said flexible lip lengthwise of said machine, means limiting said tilting movement of said front wall to a range such that in each position within said range said wall is inclined upwardly and forwardly with respect to said partition means at a substantial angle to the vertical to cause air bubbles in the downwardly flowing stock in said front compartment to be guided upwardly out of said chamber before reaching said slice, a flow distributing roll mounted in said front compartment adjacent said slice and below the lower end of said front wall, means carried by said front wall for raising and lowering the lower edge of said lip with respect to said front wall to vary the effective opening in said slice in each tilted position of each said front wall, and means forming an adjustable connection between said front wall and a portion of said lip extending thereacross intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof to vary the cross-sectional contour of said lip and to maintain said lip in close proximity with said roll in each adjusted tilted position of said front wall.

6. A head box for a Fourdrinier paper machine comprising means including front and side walls forming a flow compartment for paper making stock, means for delivering stock to the upper end of said compartment for downward flow therein, means defining a slice at the lower end of said compartment including an extended flexible lip depending from the lower end of said front wall, means forming a pivotal support for said front wall on said side walls providing for tilting movement of said front wall on a horizontal axis extending parallel therewith to cause adjustment of said flexible lip lengthwise of said machine, means limiting said tilting movement of said front wall to a range such that in each position within said range said wall is inclined upwardly and forwardly with respect to said partition means at a substantial angle to the vertical to cause air bubbles in the downwardly flowing stock in said compartment to be guided upwardly out of said compartment before reaching-said slice, a beam mounted on said front wall forwardly of the lower end thereof, means forming a plurality of adjustable connections between said beam and the lower edge of said slice lip for adjusting the alignment of said lip edge, means for raising and lowering said beam with accompanying flexing of said slice lip to change the outlet opening through said slice, means for adjusting said front wall on said pivotal support with accompanying forward and rearward movement of said slice lip, and means forming a plurality of adjustable bracing connections between said beam and a portion of said lip exteding thereacross intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof to conform the curvature thereof with the desired outlet through said slice while reinforcing said lip against vibration.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,981 Murray July 4, 1922 8 Witham Oct. 10, Voith Feb. 10, Mason et a1 Sept. 8, Berry Sept. 10, Hilsheimer June 16, Clements July 31, Murray Dec. 1, Kellett et al. Jan. 12, Warren July 20, Thorsen Sept. 21, Hornbostel et a1. Aug. 7, Davis Sept. 2, Malkin Oct. 28, Goumeniouk May 11,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 26, Great Britain May 21, Great Britain Oct. 29,

OTHER REFERENCES McNaughton, Paper Trade 1., December 26, 1940, page 30. (Copy in Scientific Library.) 

